Ok, I Will Say It: "Turkish Delight" For United (v. Bursaspor, 11.02.10)

Hello,

As the numbers I reported in the previous entry reflected, United has an ok record in Turkey.  I like watching games in Turkey because the fans are electric and very loud for the entire 90 minutes.  While Bursaspor is no Fenerbahçe, it is still a hostile environment which makes for a good match and great experience for the younger players.  United brough lots of youth as they were without ten players on this trip, including the rested Rio Ferdinand, sick Anderson & Machada along with injured Rooney and Giggs.  Really though, all Sir Alex needed was a certain mid-field legend named Paul Scholes.  We will discuss him later.

It was another impressive Champions League away win.  A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that United played an almost perfect away game in Spain against Valenvia. While Bursaspor is no Spainish team, they have solid formation and ball control.  Take into account this was in Turkey and one could argue that United has back-to-back very impressive away wins. 

The first half was solid from United and really Bursaspor as well with no goals to report.  Nani came off early with an injury, which is the first of two United players to come off injured.  Second-half goals from Darren Fletcher, Gabriel Obertan and Bebe extended United's unbeaten record in all competitions to 23.  United also only need a draw against Rangers at Ibrox to claim their place in the knockout phase with a game to spare (against Valencia at home).  Fletcher also left the game in the second half with what appeared to be a ankle injury.  As readers of this blog may know, I think Fletcher is key to the line-up so let's hope this is not serious.   

Before we wrap this up, let's talk Paul Scholes.  I sit beside a gentleman named BILL BLAIR who could not say enough about Scholes in this game...and he is correct.  Scholes was open practically the whole game and has such a football mind that he find space and players with such ease it is scary to think of the team without him at this point.  Legend.

So this leave RANGERS away and VALENCIA at home to complete the group stage.

See you in a couple of weeks.

Derek